The writers strike obviously holds severe financial implications for those on the picket line, but it isn't just the scribes paying the price. As more and more shows shut down as a result of the well of reserve scripts drying up, crew members working on those shows are seeing their paychecks dry up too.
That won't happen for at least a pair of shows, though. Worldwide Pants, the production company owned by popular talk-show host David Letterman, has informed employees that it will be paying its employees while the shows it creates go dark, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Worldwide Pants produces only two shows--Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson--both of which immediately shut down as a result of the strike. As owner of the company, Letterman will essentially be paying his employees out of his own pocket.
No other television production companies have guaranteed their employees' pay during strike-related closures. The Daily Show's Jon Stewart was rumored to be paying his staff through his Busboy Production, but publicists have denied any such actions.
For more on the writers strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.
This proves that there are good guys among the rich. He doesn't have to do it, but he is. It shows that he respects the little guy, just as respects the other millionairs that are on his show as guests. Good shot Dave. Keep setting a good example in what decency is all about.
Writer will probably end up being out of work for a long long time as networks will drastically increase the amount of unscripted socalled reality TV. Which they are actually doing. Either that or they will be outsourced and writers from Japan and Europe hired instead. Unions will do for the TV industry what they did for the steel, clothing and auto industries - leave alot of unemployed people looking for work. They will be standing by the side of the road: "Will write for food!"
I support the Writers' strike, but I realize the problems it can cause for innocent parts in all of this. Kudos to Dave for doing this! :)
GO DAVE!
class act indeed. i wish i enjoyed his show now. but i give him major props. as important an issue as the writers' strike is in hollywood, its sad that others have to suffer.
A few people seem to be missing the point of this, Letterman isn't paying the writers, he's paying the rest of the staff. In other words those people who have nothing to gain from the strike at all and are losing their jobs because of the WGA.
He should have gotten the Tonight Show! Dave has class!
I wonder, if there were no union, might Dave choose to pay his writers royalties that are even greater that what the union is asking for? I'm assuming he wouldn't be allowed to do that under the union contract. Maybe he is able to compensate them in other ways. Or is his generosity limited to the strike time.
I applaud Dave Letterman for helping out the crew members financially during the strike.
Top Ten reasons to watch the Late Show when it returns to original programs...
Forget the other nine reasons to be a fan of Dave and his show..., The number one reason now to watch Dave is because he is even more generous than he is humorous. Way to go, Dave! Your mother raised you right!
Very classy thing for Dave to do.
way to go dave a class act
Class act, Dave. Biff Henderson has acting lessons to pay for! LOL
I'd say it's someone else here who sucks ...If you want to find out about how we viewers can support the creative talent that makes the shows we love try:http://fans4writers.com orhttp://unitedhollywood.com
Dave is an idiot, don't pay someone for doing nothing...Rich people suck.
Never been a fan of Letterman, but my hats off to the man for this. Too many people are losing their jobs because of the foolishness of the WGA.
The shows don't air over here in the UK but I love Craig as a comedy actor and I have Letterman when visiting Canada and the US. I think that Letterman embodies a true gentleman and proves not all of 'Hollywood' is money hungry & corrupt. Way to go Dave!
Not a fan of his show but I am now a fan of the man!
That's good, we don't hear about the families that are getting burned by the strike. This needs to end, get in a room and stay there until it gets worked out. But make progress, no one wins now.
Way to go Dave and while on the show both him and his crew rip each other up, but this proves that he really dose care about his employees.
Good man!
That's a good thing for Dave to do; it's not the crew members' fault there's a strike.
Go Dave!
Kudos to Dave! I don't watch Letterman but I now have more respect for the man. More millionaire stars should do the same, considering that they wouldn't be as far as they would in the careers without the writers.
Craig is the best
way to go dave
great idea David, the Late Late show with Craig Ferguson is my favourite!